ToyboxDX hosts a beautiful photo-exposé of a beautiful antique toy, photographed and written by collector Chogoman. This diecast oni (demon) was produced by the long-gone manufacturer Sakura in the Seventies as merchandise for the Manga Nippon Mukashibanashi (Japanese animated fairy tales) series. (You can catch the oni doing what they do best -- drinking saké -- in this episode.)
As far as I know -- and believe me, I've looked long and hard -- this is the only known example of a monster from Japanese folklore being rendered in diecast metal. It even features battery-powered light-up eyes. Sold in red and green versions, it still pops up in vintage toy stores and online auctions from time to time today.
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